If that really were the case, then why trade for Flacco? Just start Keenum and let the rook spend the year riding it out on the bench and learning and getting ready to start next year when his contract is up (a la Smith-Mahomes). Why take on Flacco's contract for this year, when you know you already have to pay Keenum (regardless of whether you release him or keep him)?

The truth is Elway traded for Flacco because he really thinks he makes them a better team this year and that they might just be able to sneak into the playoffs and catch lightning in a bottle (see Flacco 2012).

He's delusional, of course, but this is his line of thinking. Guaranteed. He's too arrogant to have a long term vision. You saw it with Manning as well (of course, that ended up working out for them okay), but Flacco is not Manning, as we all know . . . . . .
[Reply]

Yeah, realistically their best chance is for our team plane to go down.
[Reply]

Because all they really want with Flacco is money on the books this year that they can unload after 2019 that will be free of any dead money. They are positioning for the future, not 2019.

This is similar to how NBA teams will take on expiring contracts when they want to go after a big time free agent in the offseason.
[Reply]

What? You can roll over unused cap space. That makes no sense whatsoever.
[Reply]

Not to mention no one is trading for Case
[Reply]

Same old story:

New HC and OC don't want to roll with an unknown asset and Elway doesn't want to keep starting Keesum but has now become gun-shy about drafting a 1st round QB.

Ideally, Elway takes one of the schlub QB's from this year's weak class but I'm guessing he won't jump for a 1st rd. QB again until he feels, and all of his people tell him, that's he's getting a 100% sure thing.

Which doesn't exist.

I'll bet you dollars to tits that if some of these projected 1st rd. QB's start falling in to day 2( ala Geno ), that he'll grab one, but not in the 1st. Paxton done made him scurrrrrd.
[Reply]

Huh?

Why would they want 'money on the books' just because? They don't have to spend that money on the QB position this year.

Flacco's $20 mil. this year could have been used to lock up Paradis (who's a FA and the anchor of their O-Line) and add another solid interior piece to strengthen that O-Line(which has been garbage outside of Paradis) and give some protection to whatever rook QB they draft this year and plan to start next year. The whole thing just makes no damn sense whatsoever, unless you conclude that Elway really believes they can be competitive and win this year, which is mind numbingly stupid in a division with the Chiefs and Chargers. Their ceiling is 3rd place this year, even if they have a good year.

It's just idiocy. Just play out Keenum's contract this year and use that Flacco money for other resources elsewhere. That would be the smart thing to do.

But, then again, I think we've already found out Elway isn't the smartest GM . . . . .
[Reply]

I wish Johnny and Kyle Orton could be united. That would just be magical. Can you imagine the early morning, mid morning, brunch time, lunch time, afternoon, late afternoon, quittin' time Whiskey snorts those two ol' boys could have together?!?!?

Man that'd be great.
[Reply]

He DOES believe he can compete with this. It's literally like watching the Chiefs prior to Mahomes. "Just a solid vet and a few pieces will get 'er done"!

:-)
[Reply]

That's dumb. That's the kind of thing some talking head would spew to make it seem like he was smarter than everyone else. When in reality, he was dumber for saying it.
[Reply]

They are going to lose their only good offensive lineman AND a fourth rounder for any injury-prone, 34 year old statue....that has ranked in the bottom 5-7 QBs for the past 4 consecutive years.

Flacco needs a clean pocket to operate...

Who is going to be their back-up QB?

I'm glad Horseface's ego is too big to admit they are rebuilding...he's blowing cap/picks on nothing.

Unless they are aiming for the #1 pick next season and using Flacco as a means to sell hope after the Keesum disaster...it's just a stupid, stupid move.

Why not just go after Foles...at least he would improve their team. I dont think Flacco is better than Case in this situation...the Donkos are going to need a mobile QB with that terrible OL.
[Reply]

Won’t they STILL be paying dead money until the end of his contract? Only in a year or two the savings outweigh the dead money?

In that case (pun not intended) it would be cheaper and less of a headache to roll with Keenum, wouldn’t it? And if bottoming our is your goal and you believe Flacco is an upgrade at QB, why WOULDN’T you try to bottom out with Keenum and keep the cap space?
[Reply]

Foles has only truly been good in PHI... right team, right coach, right time. I think he's a big risk outside of PHI. Foles had a solid 2nd season, but they still let him go a year later and did his job as the backup when they won the title. Foles is a great backup, esp in that offense.
[Reply]

The Joe Flacco trade reminds me of the story that John Elway passed on buying a 10% stake in the Broncos for $15 milllion (now would be worth $265 million) and instead invested $15 million in what turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.

— Matt Derrick (@mattderrick) February 13, 2019

I did not know this...what a dipshit.
[Reply]

I agree , he needs to be with a decent coach to be effective. No reason for him to go to denver.
[Reply]